The Thunder lost second-round pick Otega Oweh to a torn Achilles tendon during the preseason (he was subsequently waived to make room for Micah Peavy), then Jalen Williams (fractured fibula/dislocated left ankle), Cason Wallace (torn left labrum) and Chet Holmgren (small right patellar tendon tear) all suffered serious injuries on October 25, the team’s third game of the season.

Head coach Mark Daigneault says Oklahoma City isn’t looking for sympathy amid the brutal wave of injuries, per Clemente Almanza of Thunder Wire (Twitter video link).

“We understand the challenge in front of us. Obviously, our circumstances have changed significantly in a week, so it kind of reframes the challenge,” Daigneault said. “But sympathy doesn’t help you compete. Excuses don’t help you compete. And we have a competitive team, so we’re excited to go out there and compete and take on the challenge head on.” 

After opening the season with a 4-0 record, the Thunder have lost their past two games — both on the road — to Dallas and Houston, respectively.

Here’s more from the Northwest Division:

• Following Saturday’s loss in Houston, Thunder coach Daigneault was also asked about what his team has learned when faced with adversity in the past, as Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman relays (Twitter video link). “Adversity obviously tests you in terms of your discipline to your standards and discipline to walking the walk on things that you say are important to you,” Daigneault said. “And it also tests your mettle. It forces you to persevere. It raises your standard. That’s worked well for us over time. But you’re only as good as you are in the challenge that you’re in, so we’ve got to do that now. This is a team that I have the utmost confidence in our ability to approach it the right way, think about it the right way and attack it the right way. Take our punches like we did tonight and also throw some, which we’ll do. That’s how we have to approach it.”
• Foul trouble has been a significant issue for Timberwolves point guard LaMelo Ball early on this season. He’s averaging a career high 4.3 fouls per game in a career-low 25.1 minutes per contest and fouled out of Saturday’s loss in San Antonio after just 20 minutes. Head coach Chris Finch talked about Ball’s foul troubles after the game, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “He’s gotta get through it … But to be fair they’re fouling him all over the floor. They got their hands on him, they’re holding him, they’re riding him off his line. At the other end, he’s being whistled for a bunch of touch fouls,” Finch said.
• The Jazz were expected to compete for a play-in, if not playoff, spot in the Western Conference this season. However, they’re off to a poor 1-5 start and were thoroughly outplayed by Portland on Saturday. Shreyas Laddha of The Salt Lake Tribune considers what’s a real concern for Utah and what’s an overreaction amid the sluggish start.